Monday, 23 September 2013

My first ever knit - Miette Cardigan

I have succumbed to peer (blog) group pressure and crossed over to the dark side ... knitting.

And I likey.

A lot.

I was one of those people who was so obsessed with sewing that I didn't get the fascination with knitting; It just didn't interest me. I was getting increasingly nervous about the number of seamstresses who were learning how to knit. I felt like I was the only kid who didn't have a pair of knitting needles in my back pocket like nun-chucks. And I'd seen knitting patterns. They looked like my 8 month old son had started bashing my keyboard with his tiny future-sewing wrists. I mean what the H is 'kfbl, k1, ssk, kbl'??

So I decided to take a class with the wonderful ladies at Handmakers Factory and see what all the fuss was about.

You know that moment where Harry Potter holds his wand for the first time at Ollivander's and he's shrined in a gold aura and shiz starts flying around his head? I had one of those moments with knitting. Not as strong as my sewing buzz, but it was definitely an awakening moment in me. P.s. - Wands totes look like knitting needles. Just saying.

So naturally my obsessive nature wanted to start knitting a garment straight away. There would be no long scarf or beanie for me to begin with. That would be too sensible. So when the Hand-makers Factory announced they'd be doing a Miette Cardiganknit-a-long I decided to give it a crack.

And here it is in all it's beginner glory!
The pattern is by Andi Satterlund, a talented lady with a penchant for vintage knits.

The instructions were extremely well written, which is very favourable for a beginner knitter. The pattern is also FREE! Another great thing about this pattern is that there are no seams! Truly! So if you're nervous about knitting because you don't know how to put all the finished pieces together, this is a great way to start.

I knitted this bad boy up in the 42" bust size using a wool/cashmere/silk aran yarn. I made the sleeves slightly shorter to match the shortness of the cardigan.

I love the lace detailing on the cardigan and once you get your head around the different types of stitches it's actually pretty straight forward.

The answer to the question 'What colour buttons go with a blue cardigan?' was of course: BLING! I am a sucker for shiny sparkly things, and I like the girly-ness it adds to cardigan.

My only regret with this cardigan is that I made it in the large size. It fits nicely, but the pattern is supposed to have two inches of negative ease, and there is none on my finished garment. In fact there is a bit of excess yarn hanging around the sides where my boobs and arms underarms are. It's also a little baggy on the arms. But meh, I think it still works.

PROS of knitting
You can do your knitting any where! On the couch, on the train, on the beach, on the treadmill (what?); it's so easy to cart around. How often have I longed to be able to take my sewing everywhere!

CONS of knitting
Knitting takes a loooot longer that sewing, but it's sort of therapeutic.

The biggest problem with me knitting now is that I now have a fabric stash AND a yarn stash. I know I'm going to end up on one of those hoarder shows one day, except that my house will be full of fabric and yarn.

MOST UNEXPECTED THING about knitting
Wet blocking - you want me to do what now?

WEIRD ASSOCIATIONS with knitting
What slipknot meant to me in 1995 and what slipknot means to me now in 2013.

click on the picture to see it on instagram

Sewing News

Now to some sewing news, I am excited and a whole lot of nervous to announce that I am a contestant in the next round of Project Sewn!

The other contestants are amaze-balls, so I'm totally thrilled and honoured to be participating along side them! Click on the button above to check them out. They are some talented ladies! I'm looking forward to seeing what delights everyone comes up with!!

And that's it! My first ever knitted garment! You can check me out on Ravelry here

Any one else recently started knitting or thinking about starting? It's ok you can tell us. You're safe here.

57 comments:

Oh your posts make me LAUGH. That cardi is so beautiful - and congrats on Project Sewn! Don't be nervous, you're busting with talent. The Slipknot reference was GOLD by the way - can't wait to more! xoxo

Great job. I'm super impressed that this is your first project. Your stitching looks really nice and even. I've been knitting for years (as long as I've been sewing) and I still have trouble with sizing sometimes. Negative ease is just one of those learning curves, I find. It's a bit like figuring out the right size on a commercial pattern.

Oh my! I love your cardigan! I'm scared I might have to jump on the wagon and knit too. It will be convenient since I'm not buying RTW clothes, and I'm in desperate need of cardigans as the weather gets colder. What I'm afraid of is the double whammy of fabric and yarn hoarding. Yikes! I love it your cardigan and the color! Envy.

Try adding spinning to your repertoire and then you'll have 3 stashes! I currently have a yarn stash, a fabric for clothing stash, another fabric stash for quilting and a fibre stash. Most of which have reached SABLE status.

It's fab especially as your first ever project! I'm almost finished my first jumper too, the Purl Soho Lattice Sweater (it's very Flashdance), I've just bought my yarn for project 2 (a Frenchy mariniere called Morgat but unlike the model on Ravelry I will be wearing it with more than just red underpants) but the Miette is definitely number 3 in my queue (unless I find something gorgeous in the next 2 months - I'm fickle like that!). I do like the sneak peek of your next project too!

Welcome to the knitting community as well!! I think that sewing-knitting are complimentary, I really know what you mean about stashing, I do have 2 full closet of yarn and fabric :) your Miette cardigan is beautiful! And it seems you hadn't the sizing issue beginners have usually with first garment (too big, too small), so hooray. I'm going to add you as a friend on Ravelry :)

Welcome to the fabulous world of knitting where your wishlist grows much faster than you can possibly keep up with! At least with sewing you can knock over a garment in a day!Your cardi is lovely, that colour really suits you, just gorgeous. What wool did you use? (or did I miss that bit?)I just finished mine too (well 3 weeks ago) but it has been too hot to photograph it! Adding you to my friends list on Ravelry now :)

I am IMPRESSED! The result is amazing! I would never have thought that this is your first knit?! I have been knitting for abour 7 years now, and these patterned knittes still scares me of...:s I startet knitting the second i knew I was pregnant. I meen, my baby would need clothes, right? Long story short: I never finnished. But fastforward `til today, I knit ALOT! To my self and my kids. And all the abrevations scared the crap out of me at first, but now its a breeze :D So yeah, I have both a yarn stash AND a fabric stash. Both to my husbands great greaf.... And when it comes to blocking: I hate wet blocking! It smells (especially the pure wool!) and cralling around the floor pinning down that thing? I dont think so..... Looking forward to seing more of your knits:) Feel free to stop by my blog and have a peek:D

Can't believe that is your first knit ... You are clearly born to it. It looks great but as you say wold be even better in a smaller size. I block by pinning out the dry garment and spraying with water, much easier than a full set block where my sweater seems to stretch everywhere and has to be contained!

mrahahaha! from a knitter turned sewist (wannabe); when i saw you CO for a 42 " i was like... what? i see you saw you might need to go down a size for next one ;). sewing fabric => little ease. knitted fabric = super stretchy. your first sweater is amazing! great job!!!

Julia, you just described what I am experiencing these days. I am another fellow beginner knitter who ventured on her first project and is making a Miette. I am still at row 52...so I guess it will take me another month at least to finish it. Congratulations

I giggled at the Harry potter reference and snorted when you mentioned slipknot! SO far, the most complicated thing I've ever knit is a hat (it does have ears) but I'm dreamng of an Icelandic sweater...

It's way impressing for your first project! I've been knitting for ages, but I haven't really knitted garments and I'm getting into that... I'm always worried about the fit, since if it's not right, I'm not going to wear it... But I found some courses on Craftsy: Sweater surgery or what to do when you finish and it's not great (this is amazing!) and Knit to flatter as in how to make it right in the first place :)

But really: keep on knitting, I think it's easier than sewing :) And you can do it on the train (I'm moving and will have to commute then).

Just beautiful!! I can't believe you made this as a first time knitter!! If I ever learn how to knit - this is how I want to do it - just jump right into the deep end and make a sweater!! And congrats on Project Sewn! I can't wait to see your creations!

LOL as another recently inducted knitter I have to say I totally relate to all your revelations - I too, was super surprised at how enjoyable and therapeutic knitting is, and that magical moment when you realize you're MAKING something and it's appearing right before your eyes! Unlike sewing where that moment doesn't happen until near the end LOL. I started with a scarf but got bored before it was halfway through and started a sweater - so hi-five, my fellow level-jumping knitting sista!! :) Love the colour you chose, and the finished product looks great!! :) Also, my yarn stash is sharing a bin with my wool fabric stash - I figure it's not a separate stash if they a) come from the same source, and b) share the same bin LOL :)

My mum made me one of thee cardigans because I can't knit. I can crochet but not knit. I like the cardigan she made me so much that I want another one. So, I'm considering to learn knitting and it gives me great confidence that your first project is a cardigan and it worked out for you. Coz I don't want to do beanies or scarves as my first project either :)

Here's a funny thing...Miette was my first ever knit too and it looks exactly like yours... I mean, same colour, same sleeves, so so similar. I didnt go for bling buttons though, now i think i was a fool! Photos to come on the ol' blog when my hubby/photographer gets into town. A real beaut.

I can knit AND purl but i never have the patience to make something clothing wise. scarves and tiny blankets made from rows of straight stitching are the best i can do. though i did see a starters pattern for a beanie and really cute yarn at the store this past winter, which made me consider, but i just cant get my head around it. I might need to call my mum...

Congratulations with your first finished knit!! It looks really nice for a first project, mine was a super wobbly scarf (but it was soft!). Took me a while to dare to try jumpers and cardigans, but I have not looked back since my first stitch! Welcome to the world of needles, an always expanding stash and of course Ravelry!

Haha that slipknot reference made me laugh so hard! Your Miette looks gorgeous! I've been knitting more and more recently, I love how portable it is, now I can be creative during my lunchbreak as well, which feels awesome. Congrats on Project Sewn, and good luck!!

YOU GO GIRL!!!! I need to get my shiz together with knitting. I tend to be really timid with trying new things and will just make the same kinds of things over and over again and not branch out right away. I should just dive in and make a sweater!! p.s. I can't wait to see what you make for Project Sewn, congrats! I'm totttaallllyyy out of the loop and had to see what P.S. is all about, but I'm up to date now :)

You did a marvellous job on your first knit! Knitting is fun isn't it? Actually your sewing experience helps you to be a better knitter because you already understand fit and sizing. And now you can co-ordinate your yarn stash with your fabric stash and knit and sew yourself an entired co-ordinated outfit, it's more than double the fun!

Awesome! I've been learning to knit, but I felt I had to work up to a jumper or cardigan. I'm very impressed with your bold attitude. And it looks great too! Congratulations!Out of interest - how long is the cardigan? I'm a huge fan of Andi's patterns, but I'm quite long waisted.

This is so cute! Great job, girl! It really looks nice on you! I started knitting first, then when I kept seeing lovely dresses popping up on knitting blogs, I dipped my toe into sewing and rapidly became obsessed. JUST cast on for a new knitting project for the first time in at least a year as I'm commuting on public transit now and can knit on the train. Knitting is really soothing in a way that sewing isn't (sewing is more exciting, in a way), and for some reason it doesn't bother me at all when I make knitting mistakes-- I'll happily unravel it and re-knit over and over. It's really nice to have the ability to knit AND sew-- you're an unstoppable wardrobe builder now, you!

During the summer I decided to go back to knitting and learn to crotchet at last. I did knit as a kid, but I never learned how to crochet (even though I tried like a million times:). While I love sewing, the idea behind my decision was the same as what you like about knitting - it is portable :)! So I began to crochet a blanket during my summer vacation - but since it really takes some time to come to a successful end, I will probably finish it up some time around my retirement :)...